Karnaxis
Karnaxis Rulebook
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Components
- 1 Game Board with 4 sections: Stocks, Actions, Jobs, Businesses
- 6 colored Player Boards (1 per player)
- 49 colored Plastic Rings (8 per player, 1 black Business ring)
- 18 colored wooden Action Squares (3 per person)
- 1 white Starting Player Cube
- 1 black Year Marker Cube
- 210 colored Paper Bills (1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 thousands)
- 60 white Bank Loans (5, 10, 50 thousands)
- 10 pink Delinquent Payment Notices
- 1 standard six-sided Die
- 1 Stock Die
- 100 Tokens:
- 6 Accounting
- 6 Insurance
- 6 College
- 23 Retirement
- 59 Stock Shares
- 123 Illustrated Cards:
- 40 Karnaxis Cards
- 28 Event Cards
- 18 Character Cards
- 16 Job Cards
- 12 Business Cards
- 9 Franchise Cards
Colors of the paper bills may vary from those shown.
Year Chart: Keep track of game years and due dates for loan payments on the year chart. Note that all players are insured on year one.
Starting Player Cube: The player who holds this cube is the first player to perform actions each year. This cube is not automatically passed to the next player. Players can take this cube by choosing the "Collect Unemployment" action.
Game Setup
Each player chooses a color and receives:
- a player board
- 8 plastic rings
- 3 action squares
- a college token
- a $10,000 bill
Setting up your Player Board:
- Place your college token on the "No College" circle on the player board.
- Shuffle and deal 3 character cards to each player. Players choose 1 of the 3 cards and place it on the designated place on their player boards. Remove the other 2 cards from play.
- Locate the 4 numbers on your character card. Using your plastic rings, mark the corresponding 4 numbers on your Player board in the Attributes section.
Fulfilling Your Karnaxis: Each character has a unique Karnaxis or life ambition to fulfill. As a player achieves their Karnaxis, they immediately receive $100,000 from the bank. When choosing your character, carefully consider their talents and Karnaxis. Don't be afraid to try someone new!
Character card example (Wes): the card shows the character's four attribute numbers, a character ability, and a Karnaxis. Wes's ambitiousness allows him to gain an extra $1,000 business growth each time he starts a business or franchise. Karnaxis: Get 50 business growth. (The word "franchise" is partly hidden by the callout on the printed page; reading taken from the visible letters and the card's context.)
Setting up the Game Board:
- Place the black plastic ring on the 5 in the black business' stock value.
- Place the black year marker on year one of the year chart.
- Place the franchise cards on the game board on their designated place.
- Shuffle the Event and Karnaxis cards and place them on their designated places on the game board.
- Place the appropriate Job and Business cards on their designated places on the game board depending on how many players there are. Remove unused cards from play.
Player-count symbols on cards: These symbols indicate the required number of players to use the card in a game.
- 1+ (green) = 1 or more players
- 3+ (blue) = 3 or more players
- 5+ (red) = 5 or more players
Unemployment Fund: This is a pile of cash next to the game board that slowly grows throughout the game. Players can take this money by choosing the "Collect Unemployment" action.
High End Jobs: These jobs require a lot of education, but they are worth it in the long run.
Start Business: Businesses have levels and costs:
| Business Level | Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 | $20,000 |
| 2 | $60,000 |
| 3 | $120,000 |
| 4 | $170,000 |
When a business is started, the player earns:
- +1 Business Card
- +Business Growth
- +5 Shares in New Business
Businesses: Each business has a level from 1 to 4. Business levels determine the startup cost for that business.
Objective
Your goal is to climb higher in the economic ladder than your peers by earning the most cash after 12 years. This can be accomplished by going to college, finding jobs, starting businesses, investing in retirement, playing the stock market, winning the lottery, and more. Players start by choosing a unique character with a distinct Karnaxis to fulfill. Each game year brings new current events and more economic competition. It will require some sound strategy, calculated risk, and maybe just a little good fortune to succeed. Good luck!
How to Play
Karnaxis can be played by 1 to 6 players. Choose players to help disperse the money, bank loans, unemployment fund, and tokens throughout the game. These players are collectively referred to as "the bank" (not to be confused with the Banker Job).
Players roll the die and the player with the highest roll is the starting player. They receive the white starting player cube and will remain the starting player until another player chooses the "Collect Unemployment" action.
There are 12 rounds or game years. Each year has 3 stages in this order:
- Update New Year
- Take Action!
- Year End Review
1. Update New Year
Do the following 4 steps in order.
-
Move year marker: The year chart keeps track of the 12 years of game play. When starting the game, make sure the year marker or black cube is on year one. At the beginning of each subsequent year, move the year marker to the next year.
The year chart shows loan payments due in certain years: Year 4 (loan payments due: 50%), Year 8 (loan payments due: 50%), and Year 12 (loan payments due: 100%). The Year 1 space is partly covered by the year marker cube; its visible text reads "coverage" (see the Components section: all players are insured on year one).
-
Read new event card: Event cards represent current events during a year. Once a year, a new event card is read out loud and applies to that year only. Make a discard pile beside the game board for used Event cards.
-
Add $10,000 to the unemployment fund: The unemployment fund is a pile of cash that accumulates next to the game board. Once a year, $10,000 is added to this fund from the bank. As someone chooses the Collect Unemployment action, they receive the money in the unemployment fund (see Collect Unemployment below).
-
Update stocks: The stock die is used to update the stock market. The stock die has six sides that read: -2, -1, -1, +1, +1, +2. Once each year, the owner of each active business rolls this die and increases or decreases their business' stock value according to the die.
- If a business' stock value reaches 0, then half (rounded up) of the shares in that business are removed from the stock board. The stock value of that business is then moved back to 1.
- If a stock value reaches the "$" space (the top space of each stock track, printed as "$" on the board), players who own shares in that business immediately receive dividends of $1,000 cash for each share they own in that business. The stock value of that business is then moved back to 9.
- Note: Stock values may reach 0 or the "$" space multiple times in a year and the above rules are applied each time. The starting player rolls the die for the black business.
2. Take Action!
The Actions section of the game board displays available actions for players to perform. During the Take Action stage of the year, each player performs two actions.
In clockwise order, and beginning with the starting player, players take turns placing one of their action squares on any action space they wish to perform. Repeat this until all players have used their two actions. You can choose actions already picked by other players, but you can't choose the same action space more than once per year. Only one player may Collect Unemployment per year.
After all players have performed their actions, they retrieve their action squares.
Collect Unemployment
- Cost: $0
- Earn: +Unemployment Fund, +Starting Player Token
When a player chooses the Collect Unemployment action space, they receive the white starting player cube and all the cash currently in the unemployment fund. They will be the starting player in the following year.
Buy Karnaxis Card
- Cost: $15,000
- Earn: +1 Karnaxis Card
Players may choose to buy a Karnaxis card by paying $15,000 to the bank. Karnaxis Cards hold a variety of opportunities to earn money, acquire attributes, increase business growth, and more. Players may use their Karnaxis card immediately, save it for later or sell it to another player for any agreed upon price.
Job Search
- Cost: $0
- Earn: +1 Job Card
Players may search for one job on the job board by using this action. They MUST have the prerequisites before being considered for the job. If they have the prerequisites, they are hired and may take the job card from the job board and place it on their Player Board on the designated spot.
Note: Job Searching is considered Going to Work for the year they obtained the Job Card.
Go To Work
(You must use your first action.)
- Cost: $0
- Earn: Keep 1 Job Card
Going to work allows you to keep one and only one job from the previous year. Once a player has a job, they must use their first action to Go to Work each year. If a player does not use their first action to Go To Work, they are immediately fired and must return their job card to the job board.
Personal Study
- Cost: $0
- Earn: +1 Attribute
Players who choose Personal Study gain 1 attribute of their choice at no cost.
College or University
- College cost: $5,000. Earn: +1 Aptitude, +1 Attribute, +Update College Token.
- University cost: $15,000. Earn: +2 Attributes.
Players can attend College or University, but not both in one year.
College students pay tuition of $5,000 and gain 1 aptitude and 1 attribute of their choice, and move their college token down to the next circle (Freshman - Senior). Once a senior, you may not attend college, but can still attend University.
University students pay tuition of $15,000 and gain 2 attributes of their choice. Players may attend University as many years as they wish.
Retirement Fund
- Cost: $5,000
- Earn: +1 Retirement Token
When players choose the Retirement Fund action space, they pay $5,000 to the bank, and receive one retirement token. Retirement tokens are placed on the player board in the designated spot. Tokens are turned in at the end of the game for cash.
At Game End (Retirement Tokens / Receive): The card lists a payout for each retirement token count, but the bottom rows of the printed card are cut off at the edge of the card in the source scan. The payout amounts are not legible in the source and are not transcribed here.
Buy/Sell Stock and/or Hire Accountant and/or Buy Insurance
Players may perform any or all of these actions.
- Buy/Sell Stock: Players may buy and/or sell stock in their own business, other player's businesses or the black business.
- Hire Accountant (Cost: $10,000 per year; Earn: +1 Accountant Token): Players who hire an accountant take an Accountant token, and place it on the designated circle on their player board. They are now able to use the smart tax bracket when determining their taxes.
- Buy Insurance (Cost: $5,000 per year; Earn: +1 Insured Token): Players who buy insurance take an Insurance token and place it on the designated circle on their player board. They are now immune to negative effects from event cards, with the exception of anything that affects stocks.
Start Business
Players can start one business per year if they have the prerequisites and pay the startup cost for that business. The startup cost varies depending on the business' level.
| Business Level | Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 | $20,000 |
| 2 | $60,000 |
| 3 | $120,000 |
| 4 | $170,000 |
Earn: +1 Business Card, +Business Growth, +5 Shares in New Business.
Players then:
- take the business card and place it on the designated spot on their player board.
- use one of their plastic rings to increase their business growth by the amount indicated on their newly purchased business card.
- for their first business started, use one of their plastic rings to circle the number 5 in the corresponding colored triangle on the stock board.
- receive 5 shares in their business' stock.
Start Franchise
- Cost: depends on the level of the mother business (see table)
- Earn: +1 Franchise Card, +Business Growth, +5 Shares in Mother Business
| Mother Business Level | Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 | $15,000 |
| 2 | $40,000 |
| 3 | $75,000 |
| 4 | $100,000 |
Players can start one Franchise per year in another player's business (mother business). They must have the prerequisites for the mother business, and they must pay the start up cost which depends on the level of the mother business. These costs are paid directly to the owner of the mother business.
Players then:
- take a franchise card and place it on the designated place on the player board.
- use one of their plastic rings to increase their business growth by the amount indicated.
- receive 5 shares in the mother business' stock each time a franchise is started.
Advertise
Players can advertise to increase their business growth. Players cannot advertise unless they own a business or franchise. Advertising costs are dependent upon what level of business/franchise they own.
| Required Business Level | Cost | Business Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 1+ | $10,000 | +$2,000 |
| 2+ | $20,000 | +$3,000 |
| 3+ | (cut off in source scan) | +$7,000 |
The card's rows beyond level 3+ are not visible in the source scan.
3. Year End Review
Do the following 4 steps in order.
-
Update and Receive Business Income and Job Salary:
- Job Salary: Players who have gone to work and/or just started a job receive salary for those jobs.
- Business Income: Locate the Business Growth and Business Income sections on the Player Board. Once at the end of each year, move the business income marker up by the amount of business growth you currently have. Then receive the new amount indicated by business income. The effects of business growth are additive on business income.
- Note: The only time you should move your business growth marker is when you start a business, start a franchise, advertise, or are otherwise directed to by an event or Karnaxis card.
Examples from the rulebook:
- "For example, if I start a shoe shop during the year, I add $2,000 to my business growth. At the year end, I note that my business growth is $2,000, move my business income marker up by $2,000, and receive $2,000 cash."
- "On the following year, I advertise and gain $2,000 business growth making my business growth $4,000. At the year end, I note that my business growth is now $4,000, move my business income marker up by $4,000, and receive the new amount indicated by business income of $6,000."
- "On the following year, I acquire no business growth, but I still update my business income. At the year end, I note that my business growth is still $4,000, move my business income marker up by $4,000, and receive the new amount indicated by business income of $10,000."
Game End
The game ends after 12 years. Turn in your retirement tokens for cash. Count your cash on hand, subtract delinquent payment notices (-$100,000), and subtract outstanding loans plus interest from your cash. Shares left in the stock market don't count toward your cash. The player with the most cash wins! Use the chart below to determine the rank you achieved.
| Cash | Rank |
|---|---|
| $500,000+ | Amateur |
| $1,000,000+ | Novice |
| $1,500,000+ | Expert |
| $2,000,000+ | Elite |
Know Your Player Board
- Business Growth: Use a plastic ring to keep track of your business growth. These numbers represent thousands of dollars. Gain business growth by starting a business, starting a franchise, or advertising.
- College: Each year you attend college, move your college token down. Once you're a senior, you can no longer attend college.
- Business Income: Use a plastic ring to keep track of your business income. These numbers represent thousands of dollars. Once a year, increase your business income by the amount of growth you have. Collect the newly indicated amount of cash from the bank.
- 100k-300k: If your business income is over $100,000, use a plastic ring to mark the 100k circle. Continue tracking your business income as usual, but add $100,000. Similarly, use the 200k and 300k circles once your income reaches $200,000 and $300,000.
- Accounting: Hire an accountant and place your accounting token here. Now you can use the smart tax bracket to determine taxes due each year.
- Insurance: Buy insurance and place your insurance token here. Now you are immune to negative effects from event cards, with the exception of anything that affects stocks. All players are automatically insured during the first year.
- Retirement: Invest in your retirement fund and place retirement tokens here. Turn these in at the end of the game for cash.
- Tax Bracket: Taxes are due at the end of each year. Based on your income, use the tax bracket to determine how much taxes are due.
- Attributes: Mark your attributes with plastic rings. Acquire more attributes through personal study, college, or university. Use these attributes to qualify for jobs and businesses.
Tax Brackets (as printed on the player board; amounts in thousands of dollars):
| Income | 0-25 | 26-50 | 51-100 | 101-150 | 151-200 | 201-250 | 251-300 | 301+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tax | 5 | 15 | 30 | 60 | 90 | 120 | 150 | 180 |
| Smart Tax (with accountant) | 0 | 5 | 10 | 30 | 50 | 70 | 90 | 110 |
Bits 'n Pieces About Characters
A few characters have specific rules:
- If Josh owns shares of stock in other player's businesses or the black business, he may roll the stock die a second time after the owner of the business has rolled, but must keep the result of the second roll.
- Julie's photography business is considered a level 1 business in all respects.
- Whitney does not have to hold 2 jobs at once, but has to get at least 2 different jobs throughout the game.
- Zack fulfills his Karnaxis and receives $100,000 once he becomes the tax collector, but if he takes out a loan, he must pay $100,000 back.
Loan Odds 'n Ends
You can get a loan at any time by taking Bank loan notices. You can take a loan for anything except to make a loan payment. You can't have more than $200,000 in loans at any time.
If a player has $200,000 in loans and needs to borrow more money to pay an expense, then they must take a delinquent payment notice. If the expense is more than $100,000 then they must take another delinquent payment notice. The bank will then pay the expense for them.
Jobs 'n Stuff
Some jobs receive additional benefits on top of salary. It's the player's responsibility to make sure they receive benefits from their jobs.
- Tax Collector: $5,000 tax discount per player. (For example, in a 4 player game the tax collector pays $20,000 less on his taxes each year.)
- Consultant: collect $5,000 each time a player buys a Karnaxis card from the pile, including yourself.
- Professor: collect $5,000 each time a player goes to College or University, including yourself.
- Banker: interest free loans and receive the interest as other players make loan payments.
- Rocket Scientist / Pro Athlete: one extra action each year.
Ins 'n Outs of Businesses & Franchises
When you own multiple businesses, they are considered merged together. The level of your merged business is the level of your highest business. (For example, if I owned a level 1 and a level 3 business, then my merged business level would be 3.)
Level 4 business owners receive additional benefits on top of business growth:
- Accounting firm: free accounting token and receive all accounting fees from other players each year. Accounting firm Franchise owners only get a free accounting token.
- Insurance and Investing firm: free insurance token and $5,000 discount when using the "Retirement fund" action. Also receive insurance and retirement fees from other players each year. Insurance and investing firm Franchise owners only get a free insurance token and $5,000 discount when using the "Retirement fund" action.
- Advertising firm: $20,000 discount when advertising and receive all money other players pay to advertise. Advertising firm Franchise owners only get a $20,000 discount for advertising.
Note: It is the business owner's responsibility to collect these benefits from other players.
Stock Market Basics
The stock market keeps track of the value and quantity of shares players own in each business. Each colored triangle represents a different player's business. Stock values are marked using the numbers 0-9 in each business. Colored plastic rings are placed over the numbers to indicate a business' stock value.
The black business is the only business that starts the game with stock value. The other player's businesses gain stock value as those players start a business. When a player starts a business, its stock value starts at 5 or $5,000, and a plastic ring is placed on the 5 in their colored triangle. They also get 5 shares in their business each time they start a business. A business does not gain stock value until that player starts their first business. Stock values and share holders have no effect on a business' growth or income.
Players may buy and sell stock by choosing the Buy/Sell Stock action space on the Action board. The stock values (1-9) in each business indicate the price/value of its shares in thousands. As players buy stock, they stack share tokens on their colored circle in the business they wish to buy stock in. As they sell stock, they return the share tokens to the bank and receive cash equal to their value. Players may buy and sell any number of shares in any player's business or the black business.
Example (purple player): "For example, if I was the purple player and I just started my first business, I would place one of my purple rings on the 5 in the purple triangle. I would also place 5 shares, using the share tokens, on the purple circle in the purple triangle. This shows that I own 5 shares in my purple business worth $5,000 each for a total of $25,000."
Example (orange player): "If I were the orange player and wanted to buy and sell stocks, I would place an action square on the Buy/Sell Stocks space on the action board. If I owned 3 shares in my orange business and the stock value in my orange business was 5, I could sell those 3 shares for $5,000 each and receive $15,000 cash from the bank. I could then buy shares in the green business, whose stock value is 2 or $2,000. I decide to buy 20 shares at $2,000 per share for a total cost of $40,000 to the bank. I would then place 20 share tokens on the orange circle in the green triangle. This would show that I own 20 shares in the green business."